Monday, August 3, 2026

ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: STEPHENSON RIFE ATTORNEYS

Before-and-after: Shelbyville High School basketball player Camden Thoman poses during Saturday’s sports photography workshop. The first image shows a photo taken before instruction. After receiving a few minutes of guidance from instructors Brad Deel, Dani Mack and Luke Lockridge, along with adjustments to posing, lighting and the addition of atmospheric fog, the remaining images demonstrate how a few professional techniques can dramatically transform a sports portrait. | photos by KRISTIAAN RAWLINGS

Professional sports photographers from across the country spent Saturday teaching lighting, posing and editing techniques to photographers during a hands-on workshop organized by Shelbyville photographer and educator Luke Lockridge.

The event, held at Shelbyville High School, featured nationally recognized photographers Brad Deel and Dani Mack, who led 12 photographers through sports photography sessions at the football stadium and in Garrett Gymnasium. Athletes from football, soccer, basketball and volleyball volunteered as subjects while participants practiced using professional lighting and other equipment.

Lockridge said the idea grew out of a similar workshop he attended earlier this summer in Delaware, Ohio.

After seeing the value of the experience, he worked with the instructors to bring the concept to Shelbyville.

Photography has become a second career for Lockridge, who teaches eighth-grade engineering and technology at Shelbyville Middle School. He rediscovered the hobby during the COVID-19 pandemic, photographing nature before moving into family portraits and eventually sports photography while following his son’s travel baseball team.

The workshop attracted photographers from multiple states and included demonstrations using professional lighting, smoke effects and other equipment supplied by industry partners. By the end of the day, he said the instructors were already discussing making the event an annual stop.

“Once Brad and Danny got to (Garrett Gym) yesterday, they said, ‘This needs to be a yearly thing,’” Lockridge said.

Bryan Fischer discusses his recent family trip to South Dakota and Wyoming on today’s episode.

Construction continues at St. Joseph Catholic Church, where crews are installing brick on the bell tower and working on the parking lot. | photos by JOHN WALKER

by LUCILLE HAACKER & KRISTIAAN RAWLINGS

Peyton Wilson may be new to Shelbyville, but he is not new to parks and recreation.

Wilson recently joined the Shelbyville Parks and Recreation Department as its sports director after graduating from Indiana University in May. The Mooresville native earned a degree in sports management and marketing and grew up with both parents working in parks and recreation.

“I’ve been a Parks and Rec kid all my life,” Wilson said. “I’m kind of used to the lifestyle. I figured they’ve been doing it for 20 or 30 years, so why not start?”

Wilson said much of his first month has been spent learning how the department operates, considering new programming and becoming familiar with the community. One of his primary goals is increasing participation in local sports programs.

“I would love to just go out to the diamonds and see a bunch of people out there, go to the field, pickleball courts, whatever it may be,” Wilson said.

Coming from outside Shelbyville, Wilson said one of his greatest challenges is learning what residents value and what they would like to see offered. The department has distributed surveys seeking feedback on its current adult sports programs and possible future additions.

“Every community is different, and every community evolves differently,” Wilson said. “Things change so quickly, and you just never really know what people want unless you ask them.”

Wilson grew up participating in several sports, with baseball serving as his primary sport before he became more involved in tennis and basketball. He also enjoys golf and pickleball and said softball has been among his favorite local programs to watch since joining the department.

A lifelong Indiana sports fan, Wilson attended Indiana University’s College Football Playoff games, traveling to California for the Rose Bowl and Georgia for the Peach Bowl. However, he said one of his most memorable moments since arriving in Shelbyville was a lengthy and closely contested local softball tournament game.

As he settles into the position, Wilson said he is guided by a simple piece of leadership advice: Leave it better than you found it.

“By the time I end up leaving here, I just want to make it a better place,” Wilson said. “Make it a place for families, so that the community and families can come and have fun and have a good time.”

Although still learning about Shelbyville, Wilson described the city as “up and coming.”

“I just think we have a lot to offer that we haven’t yet explored,” he said.

ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: FULL CANOPY REAL ESTATE

• The Shelbyville Rotary Club will host its “Fore a Greater Shelbyville” golf outing Friday, Sept. 18, at Blue Bear Golf Club. Registration begins at 7 a.m., followed by an 8 a.m. shotgun start for the four-person scramble. The $400 team entry includes lunch, and golfers will have four chances to win a $10,000 hole-in-one prize, along with contests for closest to the pin, longest drive, raffle prizes and other on-course games. Register here…

• Arts in the Park will return to Blue River Memorial Park on Sept. 12, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., offering a free day of family-friendly activities as part of Shelby County’s Arts Fest. The event will feature live music, puppet shows, a magic show, art projects, food trucks, face painting, balloon art, sidewalk chalk activities, painting demonstrations and other hands-on experiences. A full entertainment schedule and additional information are available at shelbycountyartsinthepark.com.

• HOOSIER NEWS: Indiana is emerging as a hub for quantum computing, with assets including Purdue University, the Naval Surface Warfare Center at Crane and the planned Quantum Corridor fiber-optic network helping position the state for future research and manufacturing. State and federal leaders recently gathered in Indianapolis for a quantum security conference focused on preparing for the technology’s potential to revolutionize computing while addressing national security risks, including the threat that quantum computers could eventually break current encryption. Regional efforts also received a boost with a $30 million federal award to the Bloch Quantum Tech Hub, which will support quantum manufacturing and workforce development across Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin. (IBJ)

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• The Addison Times is pleased to offer free milestone announcements. Forms are available here: Engagement Announcement, Wedding Announcement and Anniversary Announcement.

This Week in Shelby County, a cartoon feature illustrated by George L. Stubbs for 38 years, is reproduced with permission of the Shelby County Historical Society and the Stubbs family.

ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: MAJOR HEALTH PARTNERS

Local headlines reported on or around this date in Shelby County history. Selections are curated by The Addison Times from Shelby County Public Library Genealogy Department materials. | edited by HANNAH BAKER | compiled by MYRON RAWLINGS

2016: McKenna Hall, a freshman at Shelbyville High School, won the high school division of Shelby Idol. The other finalists were Randy McDaniel, Zaria Martin and Hunter Skillman.

2006: Construction continued on a 150-foot batch house at Knauf Insulation on Elizabeth Street. The batch house would hold raw materials used in the glass-making process and was part of a larger expansion project expected to be completed in 2008.

1996: Rocko’s Rockets won the 11- to 13-year-old Shelby County Girls Softball League and championship with a perfect 16-0 record. Team members were Chrissy Headlee, KayDee Vierling, Katie Carpenter, Amy Nigh, Kristen Mohr, Lauren Metz, Deniella McNamara, Misty Karnes, Stacey Haehl, Miranda Moor, Stephanie Barrick, Ashley Wilson and Jennifer Davis. Coaches were Jim Vierling, Rod Moore and Tim Haehl.

1986: Mayor Dan Theobald continued pressing Indiana Cities Water Corp. to drill new wells to address the city’s water supply concerns. A newspaper column noted the mayor's frustration after learning the company was reportedly seeking new wells for the Franklin area despite his belief that Shelbyville had a greater need.

1976: Gregg Burris, 10, won the most points in the junior Olympic program held at the park at Locust and Pike streets. Gregg won four of the seven events. The meet was conducted by Phyllis Brown and Sandy Walcott.

1966: County officials launched a grand jury investigation into alleged gambling operations at several Shelbyville taverns licensed to sell alcohol. Prosecutor Philip W. Brown petitioned the court after an investigation by the police department, City Attorney George R. Glass and the prosecutor’s office, and Judge Robert D. Ellison approved the request. About 90 subpoenas had been prepared for witnesses, including local business owners, patrons and performers, with the investigation focusing on alleged gambling and so-called “go-go girl” performances at local taverns, including Blue River Inn, 23 W. Jackson St.

1956: Crestmoor subdivision was approved for Veterans Administration home purchase loans. Those who qualified needed $250 down ($3,000) plus closing costs for a home, which cost $12,445 ($153,000 in today’s money).

Charles Shearer, of Shelbyville, was elected vice president of the U.S. Junior Chamber of Commerce.

1946: A display of military vehicles and equipment arrived in town for display at the fair. Among the highlights were a German counterpart of the American Jeep, captured at Salerno after its five Nazi passengers were killed, a Mercedes-Benz automobile once owned by Hermann Goring, and a German V-1 rocket bomb.

1936: Only 35 people attended the moonlight swim at Porter Pool. The air was “a little cool,” The Republican said. Music, provided by “Skete” Riser and his radio, played popular music.

1926: A police report was filed after a peach tree in the yard of Mr. and Mrs. E.B. Banker on South Harrison Street was stripped of its fruit at night. “Footprints were plain to be seen beneath the tree this morning,” the paper said. “It was indicated that the thieves had entered from the alley, in the rear of the property.”

ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: Freeman Family Funeral Homes & Crematory

John Hope “Big Beefy” Latham Jr., 55, of Shelbyville, passed away on Saturday, August 1, 2026, at Indiana University Health Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. He was born on May 27, 1971, in Indianapolis, the son of John Hope Sr. and Patricia Ann (St. John) Latham. On September 27, 2012, he married Sara Holder, and she survives.
In addition to Sara, John is survived by his mother, Patricia Latham and significant other, William Woolsey, of Greenfield; son, Josh Latham and wife, Brittany, of Indianapolis; daughter, Zella Latham, of Shelbyville; grandchildren, Levi Latham, Rhett Latham and Karley Latham; sister, Shannon Murphy of Nevada; and several nieces and nephews. John was preceded in death by his father; and niece, Samone Charles. His beloved dog, Cassie, also preceded him in death.

He was a semi-truck driver for Dayton Freight, with 11 years of service. “Big Beefy” had also owned and operated R&A Vending Service for three years. He enjoyed going to UFC fights, attending concerts and vacationing. “Big Beefy” was an avid Purdue Boilermaker fan, and also enjoyed attending both basketball and football games.
“Big Beefy” was a grill master and smoker of barbecue.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m., Friday, August 7, 2026, at Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, 819 S. Harrison St. in Shelbyville. Funeral services will follow.
Online condolences may be shared with “Big Beefy’s” family at www.freemanfamilyfuneralhomes.com.